Mary Jurine Bauer

Mary was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas, the daughter of Irene Gilbert and with her beloved siblings Don Gilbert and Sherry Davis. Mary cherished her role as an older sibling, and they created a tight family. Texas remained a part of her wherever life took her — she never lost her charming Texas accent, something her family will always remember.

It was in Fort Worth that Mary met her husband, Keith Bauer. They married on June 6, 1970, and made their home in Burleson, Texas, where they raised their twin daughters, Andrea and Allison.

Mary began her career at Bell Helicopter and later worked for Lockheed Martin, where she eventually retired. Hardworking and a perfectionist, she set high standards for herself — a trait she passed along to her daughters. She could type at an astonishing pace and knew shorthand and stenography; notepads filled with her indecipherable shorthand could often be found around the house, a little language all her own.

Despite long workdays, Mary rarely missed a school activity or sporting event for Andrea and Allison. Being there for her girls mattered.

Family time also meant summer adventures. The family took long camping vacations, loading up the pop-up trailer and heading from Texas to Colorado and Nebraska, often visiting Keith’s family along the way. Those trips became a treasured part of Andrea and Allison’s childhood.

Mary enjoyed life’s simple pleasures — sweet tea, baking, and shopping, especially trips to Hulen Mall with a stop at Luby’s Cafeteria. She became known for her desserts, and her signature pink lipstick was rarely far away.

And then there was Christmas.

Christmas was Mary’s favorite holiday, and she never did it halfway. She went over the top to make it special, with gifts galore. Creating that excitement for the people she loved brought her great joy, and Christmas will forever be intertwined with her family’s memories of her.

Mary treasured being Grammy to Collin and Megan. When Megan was little, Mary cared for her several days a week, and Megan’s favorite memories are of standing beside Grammy in the kitchen, learning to bake the desserts Mary was so well known for. What Mary passed along in that kitchen was more lasting than any recipe.

Collin remembers Mary’s Texas roots in the everyday language she used. Born in Colorado, he was little the first time he heard Grammy say it was time for “supper” — he had no idea what that meant, since to Grammy it simply meant dinner. That small, funny moment became a favorite memory of a Grammy who never lost the Texas expressions or accent.

Later in life, Mary and Keith moved to Parker, Colorado — the state that had once been the destination of family camping trips eventually became home.

In the final chapter of her life, Mary faced Alzheimer’s disease, which gradually took from her many of the memories she had spent a lifetime creating. But the disease could not take those memories from the people who loved her.

Her family will remember Mary as she truly was — a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and sister.

Mary is survived by her husband of 56 years, Keith Bauer; her daughters, Andrea Snyder and Allison Baker; her grandchildren, Collin and Megan Baker; her siblings, Don Gilbert and Sherry Davis; and niece Kendra Davis.

A celebration of Mary’s life (lovingly called MJ day) will be held Saturday, September 19, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the Snyder residence in Parker, Colorado. Pastor Martin Valleskey of Abiding Word Lutheran Church will provide a message of faith, followed by a lunch and dessert reception.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Mary’s honor to the Alzheimer’s Association www.alz.org or Hilarity for Charity www.wearehfc.org.